Chapter 666: The Inside Story of the Coal Industry!

After Tang Ye moved into the staff dormitory, he cleaned it up the very first chance he got.

Someone lived in the adjacent dormitory named Xie Nengtong, a technical backbone of the factory and an expert in coal quality inspection.

After Tang Ye and Xie Nengtong met, he took the initiative to greet him and even offered him a cigarette.

After a few back-and-forth interactions, Xie Nengtong and Tang Ye gradually became familiar with each other.

Over the next few days, Tang Ye often bought some liquor and deli food after work, and the two would have a few drinks in the dormitory.

Taking advantage of the drinking, Tang Ye learned about the company's operations from Xie Nengtong.

Xie Nengtong had solid technical skills and a straightforward personality; although the factory leadership harbored dissatisfaction toward him, they could only grit their teeth and endure it.

However, two years ago, the factory hired a new Technician, and Xie Nengtong was gradually pushed to the sidelines.

"Damn it, that dog Chen Mazi, ever since he took office, he only knows how to rake in money." Xie Nengtong had drunk too much and started cursing.

"Master Xie, you can't just say things like that! Be careful of walls having ears." Tang Ye advised him with his mouth, but his ears perked up.

"Do you know why our company's market share was snatched away?"

"Could it be related to Chen Mazi?"

"Hmph, Chen Mazi thinks he does things seamlessly, but in reality, I know every one of those dirty dealings he's involved in," Xie Nengtong said coldly.

"Master Xie, I can tell you're the type of person who refuses to wallow in the mire," Tang Ye flattered him.

Xie Nengtong waved his hand: "I'm not that noble, but I've worked at this unit for twenty years, and watching the enterprise get ruined by them, I really feel stifled! But what's the use of being angry? This bunch has everything greased from top to bottom; one can only watch them eat well and live well."

Tang Ye sighed: "If you walk by the river often, how can you not get your shoes wet? They will face retribution sooner or later."

Xie Nengtong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It's hard. Our Factory Director has ironclad relations with the county leadership. Previously, when people filed complaints, they were all suppressed. The DeputyFactoryDirector who was in charge of technology before didn't get along with the Factory Director; he had written a report letter to the city, but later his whole family was in a car accident. The hit-and-run driver was caught, but everyone suspects that this matter is inseparable from the Factory Director..."

Tang Ye listened, enthralled; indeed, only by going deep into the front lines could one uncover these dark secrets.

Seeing Tang Ye silent, Xie Nengtong thought he had been frightened and asked with a smile: "Little Tang, you're an educated man, why did you come to our company?"

Tang Ye said truthfully: "I want to get in touch with the coal industry and understand the tricks of the trade here."

Xie Nengtong nodded slightly: "There are plenty of tricks in the coal industry. The outside world says coal bosses are wealthy and powerful, but not a single boss who truly does coal business is someone to be trifled with."

Following that, Xie Nengtong told Tang Ye stories about several famous coal bosses in Shaan Province.

"Hundred-yuan bills stuffed into sacks, piled up by the mountain road like potatoes..."

"For a truckload of coal, groups of bosses could wait bitterly for half a month..."

"The coal mining industry has seen no shortage of deaths; they use explosives to bomb each other in the mine shafts, and private mine owners don't hesitate to risk their lives to grab territory..."

Xie Nengtong spoke with great animation, his spit flying.

Tang Ye listened with great interest, and at critical moments, he would even probe for the actual operational situation of the unit.

Over the next few days, when Xie Nengtong was at work, he would occasionally go to Tang Ye's office to sit for a while.

If Tang Ye had nothing to do, he would even lead Tang Ye to look at those coal quality inspection devices.

Mei Jie pulled Tang Ye aside privately and said seriously: "Little Tang, you need to keep your distance from Xie Nengtong."

Tang Ye asked in confusion: "Sister, Xie Nengtong just lives in the staff dormitory, and we usually have a small gathering in the evenings. He's quite forthright and doesn't have any bad intentions."

Mei Jie secretly thought Tang Ye was still too naive and warned him solemnly: "Xie Nengtong isn't well-regarded in our unit; his master was the former DeputyFactoryDirector. That DeputyFactoryDirector used to love reporting the Factory Director, so the Factory Director doesn't like Xie Nengtong. If you want to get a permanent position, you have to associate with him less."

Tang Ye thought to himself that he would be here for at most another week and had never thought about getting a permanent position.

However, Mei Jie's reminder still made Tang Ye quite touched.

"Alright, Sister, I'll listen to you and won't chat with Xie Nengtong much."

Mei Jie smiled at Tang Ye with satisfaction: "By the way, when I reported my work to Factory Director Hu yesterday, I mentioned your situation. He knows you're a graduate from a prestigious university and has a good impression of you. He has to attend a CPPCC meeting in a few days and needs to give a speech, so he's arranged a task for you to prepare the speech material."

Tang Ye agreed with a smile, but thought to himself: This Factory Director Hu, you're quite something, having a dignified Deputy County Magistrate write your speech draft.

"Alright, I'll work overtime tonight to get it done."

Mei Jie nodded slightly, thinking to herself that this young man Tang Ye was really good—young, with regular features, tall, and the key was his gentle personality; he could always complete assigned tasks without fail.

Tang Ye worked overtime until past ten o'clock that night and, seeing that the quality inspection workshop still had its lights on, assumed Xie Nengtong was inside, so he walked over.

Just as he reached the door, he heard a man and a woman talking, and Tang Ye quickly lightened his footsteps.

"General Manager Chen, this time you must help us secure this batch of coal!"

"Rest assured, I will handle the procedures. I'm doing you such a big favor, how do you plan to thank me?"

"Once the matter is settled, I'll do whatever you want."

"Then I must collect some interest today." After saying that, the man began to get handsy with the woman, "Haven't seen you in a few days, and they've gotten bigger!"

"Oh my, you're tickling me to death, you're so bad."

Through the crack in the door, Tang Ye recognized the man as Chen Mazi; as for the woman, he didn't know her.

The woman's looks were only average, but her figure was plump, seductive, and sexy.

The woman pushed the man away and subconsciously looked toward the door.

She suddenly stopped her half-hearted struggle and coquettish, provocative panting, her gaze fixed firmly on the door!

"Old Chen, it seems like there's someone outside."

"Don't lie to me, let me touch for a few more minutes."

"There really is someone, I saw a pair of eyes staring at me from outside. It scared me to death. You hurry and go take a look." The woman clutched her chest tightly and urged him repeatedly.

Chen Mazi walked to the door with no interest left, but he didn't see anyone.

It turned out that Tang Ye had taken advantage of that moment to jump out the window.

He secretly rejoiced: I was almost discovered by Chen Mazi.

After Tang Ye returned to the dormitory, Chen Mazi still felt something was wrong, so he went to the security office and handed the security guard a cigarette: "Was there anyone in the factory who got off work especially late tonight?"

"Director Chen, did something happen?" the security guard asked vigilantly.

"Lost some things, I suspect someone on the inside took them," Chen Mazi fabricated.

"Mei Jie hired a young man not long ago, and he's working overtime today writing materials for Factory Director Hu. But looking at him, he doesn't seem like the type to steal things!" the security guard said in a low voice.

"We shouldn't go around suspecting people either; I was just asking casually," Chen Mazi said with a smile.

After leaving the security office, Chen Mazi's expression turned gloomy.

He knew that the young man who had recently joined the company was quite close with Xie Nengtong.

In the quality inspection room, Chen Mazi had seen Tang Ye a few times.

If tonight's business had truly been stumbled upon by Tang Ye, things would be a bit troublesome.